Defending the West

The Western Environmental Law Center uses the power of the law to safeguard the public lands, wildlife, and communities of the American West in the face of a changing climate. We envision a thriving, resilient West, abundant with protected public lands and wildlife, powered by clean energy, and defended by communities rooted in an ethic of conservation.

Defending the West

The Western Environmental Law Center uses the power of the law to safeguard the public lands, wildlife, and communities of the American West in the face of a changing climate. We envision a thriving, resilient West, abundant with protected public lands and wildlife, powered by clean energy, and defended by communities rooted in an ethic of conservation.

Defending the West

The Western Environmental Law Center uses the power of the law to safeguard the public lands, wildlife, and communities of the American West in the face of a changing climate. We envision a thriving, resilient West, abundant with protected public lands and wildlife, powered by clean energy, and defended by communities rooted in an ethic of conservation.

We’ve assembled beautiful images to help tell the story of how WELC and our partners secured permanent protections for public lands in northern New Mexico in the face of a hostile administration. Once at risk for fossil fuel exploitation, today the Valle Vidal remains intact for plants, wildlife, and all people to enjoy. Read more here.

In this 50th anniversary year of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, river advocates, fishermen, conservationists, and members of the Oregon congressional delegation lamented the Trump administration's decision to abandon protections for the nationally significant Wild...

In a victory for New Mexico's air, climate, and water, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico today rejected a 2015 oil and gas lease sale covering 19,788 acres of oil and gas leases on the Santa Fe National Forest. The Bureau of Land Management failed...